Thermal insulation



Dec. 12, 1939. R. PARISH INVENTOR -x PM ATTO inn

Dec. 12, 1939. PARlSH 2,183,406

THERMAL INSULATION Original Filed April 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W ATTOR Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,188,406 THERMAL INSULATION Richard L. Parish, Brewster, N. Y.

Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 184,696 Renewed May 4, 1939 12 Claims.

The problem of providing eflicient thermal insulation for dwellings, buildings, and wherever it is desired to inhibit in an efiicient manner, the transmission of heat, is receiving a large amount of study and attention, and many ways have been advanced for reaching the desired'ends. For many years it has been thought that it was necessary to have thick mass materials depending on the multitude of minute dead air cells that were contained in the'mass, and this practice is still followed very widely.

More recent investigations, however, regarding the manner in which heat is transmitted, have indicated that such practice of providing thick mass materials for heat insulation is unnecessary, and since such practice is open to inherent objections, efforts have been made to replace such thick mass materials with less expensive, more easily applied instrumentalities possessing 29 as high, if not better, insulating properties.

It may be said that there are three ways in which heat is transmitted; they are convection, conduction and radiation. Heat is transmitted by convection when air currents passing over the warm surface are heated thereby and carry the heat away. Heat is transmitted by conduction through either solid, liquid or gaseous materials, as for example, through the walls or fins of a radiator. Heat transmitted by radiation travels in straight lines and with practically no absorption by the air through which it passes, this being accomplished possibly by means of electromagnetic waves which carry heat energy.

A careful analysis of the proportion of heat 35 transmitted in each of these three ways, for certain cases of house insulation, will show that radiation may account for as much as 50% or even more of the heat transmission, this value being known to be as high as from 66 to 85% 40 of the total heat transfer. If heat flow is to be restricted, the control of radiation therefore is of high importance. len th range of about 0.4 to 0.76 mu (1 mu=0.001 a millimeter) is known as visible light. Radiation of a shorter wave-length is termed ultra-violet radiation, and radiation of longer wave-length is known as infra-red radiation. The wavelength of the energy radiated by a body increases 50 as the temperature of the body is decreased, and bodies which radiate energy in the visible range must be quite hot-above 600 C. When, however, a body is in the neighborhood of room temperature, the wave-length at which it radiates as the most energy is in the neighborhood of 10 to Radiation in the wave- 14 mu (microns), which obviously is in the infrared radiation.

It has been found that certain metals possess high infra-red reflectivity, that is to say, such metals reflect ratherthan absorb, heat waves of I wave-length lying in the infra-red portion of the spectrum, so that the major portion of the total heat does not penetrate the surface of the metal at all, but instead it is reflected back towards its source. 10

Of all common metals which have been found to reflect a high percentage of radiated heat, steel is one of the most efllcient and practical, as well as the strongest and most durable; and, in this connection, it may be mentioned that a 1 bright mirror-like surface is not necessary for steel to maintain this high reflectivity of heat, the molecular structure of the surface is the most important factor and comparatively dull steel surfaces will reflect heat as well as brightly polished surfaces. A mirror which is the best reflector of light reflects practically no heat at all.

Many materials other than metals reflect little or no radiated heat but instead absorb this heat which is carried on through them by conduction. with siiclr ngn-reflecting materials it is necessary to have a porous mass of the substance to retard this heat that is absorbed from being conducted on through the material. Such insulating materials operate on this principle employing the multitude of dead air cells in their structure to prevent this conduction. Steel insulation does not absorb this heat at its surface, so that it does not need this porous mass to prevent the heat from passing through it. The dead air space 85 maintained after installation prevents the remaining portion, conducted and convected heat from passing through.

Insulation of the above-indicated character may be used in a wide variety of installations, 40 'such as constructions of walls, ceilings, roofs, and in any other location of the building where insulation may be desirable. It is the usual practice, in the case of ceilings and walls, to install the insulation between furring strips in the case of a brick wall or between the studs in the case of a frame wall, or flanged between the beams in the case of insulation in a ceiling. The celling and walls are finished in the usual way with metal lath and plaster, or wall-board, or the like.

The present invention provides an improvement on the above-indicated construction by providing an improved steel insulation of the character referred to above, wherein one side of the steel is provided with a finished surface of a suitable color or other design which is highly reflective to infra-red radiation and which will enable the insulation to be applied as sheets, strips, or other suitable form over the beams, strips or studs, with the said finished surface visible, thereby enabling the said reflecting surface to be used as the finished ceiling or wall surface, thereby eliminating the use of lath and plaster, or wall-board or other finishing material, or the said surface may be used for finishing any other interiors, such as Pullman and railroad cars, automotive vehicles, trailers, or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the present improved construction will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims; and the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

The present invention will be understood more readily by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show illustrative embodiments of various forms of construction embracing the principles of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view showing an application of the improved insulation of the present invention to the ceiling and wall of a room so that the said improved insulation of the invention forms the visible sur-- face of the wall and ceiling without the application of plaster or other finishing to the insulation material;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side of a sheet of the improved insulating material which comprises a base provided with a heat-reflecting finishing surface applied thereto in any suitable way, a portion of the finish being shown as being broken away to expose the base;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a similar sheet but modified by havinga corrosion-inhibiting coating on the reverse side of the sheet, the view showing a portion of the corrosion-inhibiting coating broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The efliciency of metallic insulation depends upon the ability of the metal to reflect from its surface the heat waves falling thereon by radiation, and it has been found that this reflection is a surface phenomenon. That is to say, if the surface of the metallic body which is presented to the radiation is not highly reflective to the infrared rays, the material in question does not possess heat insulating value, since if the radiant heat, instead of being reflected by the interposed surface and returned towards the source of heat, is absorbed by the said material, the heat is transmitted through the body of the material by conduction and is released, consequently, at the op-' posite side of the said material. Therefore, if the said material is being employed as thermal insulation in a building, or room, for example, its efliciency for its purpose is dependent upon the heat-reflecting qualities of its surface which is exposed to the heat waves incident thereon; and if the reflecting properties of this surface are low, the heat incident on this surface is absorbed into the body of the material and is transmitted therethrough by conduction and is rel a ed e t er into the building in hot weather, or conveyed by such conduction out from the building during cold weather, so that in either case the material provided for insulation falls in its purpose.

Therefore while steel is an effective heat refiector, its eflectiveness is resident in the character of its surface; and any metallic surface which is an efflcient reflector of heat is a good thermal insulator, regardless-of the thickness or charac ter of the backing behind that surface, the function of this backing then becoming that of reinforcement only.

The present invention provides an insulation of the above-indicated character which is suitable for use as the finishing surface of a wall or ceiling, obviating the use of plaster, wallboard, or other similar material. More specifically, the invention contemplates'the use of comparatively thin sheets of metal, such as steel defining wall or ceiling panels having the finishing surface thereof on the surface of the sheets which is intended to be exposed as the finished wall or celling, this finishing surface or coating being highly reflecting to infra-red radiation. The sheets themselves are sufliciently thick to be self-supporting without bucking or distortion after they are applied.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and to Fig. 1 especially, there is shown a building construction comprising a sheet A of any desired form of the improved insulation deflning the ceiling and sheets B and C defining a wall which is shown in sections to illustrate details of the manner in which the adjacent wall sheets may be applied in position, as designated by the plates D and E.

The ceiling plate A is shown as extending beneath the beams 9 from one beam to the next, being secured to the beams in any suitable way. The beams 9 are secured in usual manner to studs II. The view shows one way in which the insulating sheets may be fitted into position. It

will be seen that the studs II are recessed, as indicated at l3, to receive the batten members l5, another such member l5a, being halved in studding II and nailed to support beams 9, the ceiling sheet having adjacent edges bent downwardly to form flanges l1, l1, which engage the batten members i5, and which form seats for the wall plates B and E. Similarly, the plates B and C are flanged as indicated at l9, l9, to receive the plates D and E, the flanges l9 abutting against furl-ing strip 2|.

The bottom edges of the wall plates are flanged as indicated at 23, 23, resting on floor-beams 25, and receiving the floor structure 21. Base-boards 29, 29, and molding 3|, 3|, are provided.

It will be seen that the sheets of insulation themselves form the finished ceiling and walls. The constructions of the insulating sheets are shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive.

The form illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 comprises a base 33 which may be of commercial or black steel, one side of which base may be provided with afinishing coating 31 having a high reflectivity for infra-red radiations, this coating embracing a metallic pigment such as bronze, aluminum, or gold leaf, all of which have a high insulating value as well as being of a markedly ornamental appearance. This coating may be applied in any suitable manner to make it closely adherent and it forms the wall and/or ceiling surfaces of the room, thereby preventing substantial heat losses from the room by'conduction. The reverse surface 34 f. the base 33 may be left bare where the base 33 is commercial or black steel, since this surface is also highly reflective to infra-red radiation and it will keep heat out of the room in hot weather.

However. if desired. the reverse side of the base 33 may be provided with a heat reflecting coating 35 of corrosion-inhibiting properties for providing outside insulation, as shown in Fig. 5. This coating may be suitably an alloy of lead and tin, known as teme-plate, which is highly reflective to heat radiation. Other metallic coatings may be used however, which will have a substantially permanent character; or the base itself may be non-corrodent, such as a stainless steel, rustless iron, or the like.

Obviously, the finishing coating 31 forms the visible ceiling and wall surfaces.

It will be seen that the present invention comprises a composite sheet formed of a suitably strong base, preferably metallic for strength, with an ornamental or decorative surface, which may be lacquer, paint, enamel or other decorative material, preferably having a metallic pigment, which forms a highly reflecting surface for heat, which surface is adapted to form the finished walls and/or ceiling of a room or similar space to prevent loss of heat therefrom, the reverse surface of the base being preferably also heat reflecting to inhibit entrance of heat therethrough into the room or space during summer weather. of terne-plate containing approximately 70% to 85% of lead, balance tin, is suitable for the reverse surface.

The resulting composite sheet structure is intended to form the finished wall or ceiling, without use of plaster, wall-board and the like: therefore, it must be sufiiclently stifi to be self-supporting without warping. bucklingfor becoming otherwise deformed after it is applied, while it should be capable of being bent into such shapes as may be necessary for the production of close fits and joints when the panels are installed, with consequent production of smooth surfaces with the minimum of visibility of joint lines when installed.

In its effects when applied, the sheets reflect at least the major portion of all heat waves incident thereon, either from outside or inside the room, therebypreventing passage of substantial amounts of heat therethrough either from the outside in hot weather, or from the inside in cold weather when the room is heated.

Obviously it is desirable to make the metal sheets defining the wall and ceiling panels as large as possible in order to avoid seams or dividing lines which would be likely to be visible to more or less extent. Therefore, sheets B and C may be installed as a single panel, as may also the sheets D and E.

The finishing coating may be applied in any suitable way, as by lithographing, spraying, brushing, or the like, so that the coating will be closely adhering to the base and of proper molecular structure. In practice it is found that a finish having a metallic pigment affords a suitable heat reflectivity, as has been mentioned above.

From the foregoing consideration, it will be understood that the invention is not limited, necessarily, to the specific details of the construction as are herein specifically illustrated and described, but it will be apparent that such details are subject to various modifications which will become apparent readily to one skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention; and it will be understood, therefore, that it is intended and desired to include within the scope of the invention such modifications and changes as may A surface be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved heat insulation for building construction comprising metallic units adapted to be secured to the beams and studding of a building to define the ceiling and walls of a room, the said units comprising a steel base, a coating of terneplate covering at least one surface of the base, and a finishing coating highly reflective to infra-red radiation closely adherent to the said base on the surface of the base opposite to the terne-plate coating, the said units when applied to the said beams and studding so as to extend from one to another and with the finishing coating as the inside facing of the units, defining the finished walls and ceiling of the room, thereby dispensing with all extraneous wall materials, while being highly reflective on either side thereof to infrared wave-lengths.

2. A building construction comprising an outer wall and an inner wall defining therebetween a space to be insulated, the said inner wall comprising at least one panel consisting of a metallic sheet formed of a material of suificient thickness and stiffness to retain a preformed shape and being coated on one side with an alloy consisting of not less than 70% lead and the remainder tin, the said alloy providing a surface having high reflective characteristics when exposed to infrared radiation, and a finishing coating on the opposite side of the said sheet, the said finishing coating being also highly reflective to infra-red radiation, whereby, when the panel is applied with the finishing coating as the visible facing of the panel in the completed room, the said panel defines a finished wall, thereby dispensing with extraneous wall-forming materials.

3. A building construction comprising outer and inner surfaces defining therebetween a space to be thermally insulated, the said inner surface comprising at least one panel consisting of a metallic sheet comprising a core of commercial black steel of sufiicient thickness to retain preformed shape and having at least one rust-proof surface of high heat refiectively by being permanently coated with an alloy formed of at least lead and the remainder substantially tin, and a finishing coating on the opposite side of the said sheet, the said finishing coating being also highly reflective to infra-red radiation, whereby, when the sheet is applied as a surface panel with the finishing coating as the visible facing of the panel in a completed room, the said panel defines a finished wall or ceiling.

4. A heat insulating unit adapted to serve as an interior wall of a room and consisting of a backing sheet of self-sustaining rigidity having on one side a coating of tame-plate, and a decorative finishing coating on the opposite side of the sheet, the said finishing coating being highly reflective to infra-red radiation.

5. A heat insulating unit adapted to serve as an interior wall of a room and consisting of a backing member of self-sustaining rigidity having on one side a decorative finishing coating closely adherent thereto and highly reflective to infra-red radiation, the surface of the backing member opposite to the said coated surface being non-corrosive and also highly reflective to infrared radiation.

6. A heat insulating unit comprising a body of supporting material, and having opposite faces, a layer comprising an alloy of lead and tin permanently united to one of the faces of the said body, the said alloy defining a coating which is reflective to infra-red radiation, and a decorative finishing coating on the opposite face of the said body adapted to form an exposed surface when the unit is installed, the said finishing coating being also highly reflective to infra-red radiation.

7. A heat insulating unit comprising a sheet of supporting material which is highly reflective to infra-red radiation and having opposite surfaces, a metallic coating permanently united to are of the said surfaces and being substantially non-corrosive under atmospheric conditions, and also being highly reflective to infra-red radiation, and a decorative finishing coating on the opposite surface of the said sheet adapted to define a visible and finished surface upon installation of the said unit as a panel for a wall or ceiling, the said finishing coating being also highly reflective to infra-red radiation.

8. A heat insulating unit comprising a sheet of commercial black steel defining a core member which is highly reflective to infra-red radiation and having opposite surfaces, a coating of terneplate permanently united to one of the said surfaces, the said coating being substantially noncorrosive under atmospheric conditions, and also being highly reflective to infra-red radiation, and a decorative finishing coating on the apposite face of the said sheet adapted to define a visible and finished surface upon installation of the said unit as a panel for a wall or ceiling, the said finishing coating including a metallic pigment and being highly reflective to infra-red radiation.

9. A heat insulating unit adapted to serve as an interior wall of a room and consisting of a 10. A heat insulating unit adapted to serve as interior wall of a room and consisting of a backing member of self-sustaining rigidity providing a decorative finished appearance on one side thereof, said side being reflective to infra red radiation, the side of the backing member opposite to said first-named side being also highly reflective to infra-red radiation and being noncorrosive.

11. A heat insulating unit comprising a sheet of supporting material which is highly reflective to infra-red radiation and has opposite surfaces, one of said surfaces being substantially non-corrosive under atmospheric condition, said sheet at its opposite surface presenting a decorative appearance to provide a finished wall or ceiling panel, said opposite surface also being non-corrosive.

12. A heat insulating unit adapted to serve as an interior wall of a room and comprising a backing member of self-sustaining rigidity, said member being treated to provide a decorative finished appearance at one face thereof, which face is also highly reflective to infra-red radiation and having a non-corrosive face in opposition to said one face, said last-namel face also being highly reflective to infra-red radiation.

RICHARD L. PARISH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,l85,h06. December 12, 1959.

RICHARD L. PARISH.

It is hereby certified that error appear sin the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 21, for the word "hereafter" read hereinafter; same page, second column, line 26, for "bucking" read buckling; page 5, second column, line 52, claim 5,-for "reflectively" read reflectivity; page 1;, first column, i e 56, claim 8, for "apposite" read opposite; and second colunn, line 16, claim 10, before "reflective" insert highly; line 25, claim 11, for- "condition" read conditions; line 57, claim 12, for "last-nmnel".read lastnamed; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signedand sealedthis 15th day of February, A. D. 191 .0.

Henry Van-Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

